How to Remove a Tick From a Dog
Just like you, I dislike checking my dogs for ticks. I’m scared I’ll find one, but every dog owner should know how to remove a tick from a dog, especially after visiting tick territory. Living in the South, I’ve learned to be proficient within a reasonable amount of time.
How to Remove Ticks From Dogs
Get Comfortable
Don’t rush the process. Get comfortable on the floor or sofa, and plan 10-30 minutes, depending on the size of your dog. Removing a tick from your dog works best when your dog is lying down. Fill a food stuffed toy with peanut butter (freeze overnight for longer results), so he can happily lick away while you check your dog for ticks.
Find your tweezers or whatever you use to remove ticks. Personally, I use my fingers. Also, keep flushable tissue paper and alcohol next to you just in case you find one. Never smash the tick. Kill it by tossing it in alcohol or cedar oil.
Halfway through, you’ll need to flip your dog over. Grab a yummy treat and lure your dog up and over onto his other side. You can totally shape and capture your dog lying on his side, and even cue with “left side” and “right side.”
Use Fingertips
Rather than rustling his coat from side to side, use your fingertips instead while you feel through his hair. Fingertips are much more sensitive and can feel tiny abnormalities, especially in heavy coated areas. By keeping fingertips close together, you’re less likely to miss ticks. Don’t laugh, but closing your eyes while running your fingertips along his skin will heighten your senses, which can help detect smaller ticks or tick dirt (i.e. fecal matter made of dried blood).
Ticks feel like skin tags when they’re attached to the skin. If you feel something, stop and part your dog’s hair to get a better look. If you find one, wipe the area with alcohol, so hair will stay out of the way. Sometimes, alcohol will cause a tick to slowly pull his head out of the skin. If this happens, wrap in alcohol-soaked toilet paper and flush.
If a nasty tick refuses to move, you’ll need to pull him out. Take a deep breath and grasp the tick close to the embedded head. Some use tweezers. However, I haven’t had much luck with removing a tick with tweezers because I tend to squeeze the tick’s body, which is not what you should do. I use my fingers and steadily pull outwards, keeping the tick perpendicular to my dog’s skin. You’ll be shocked how hard you’ll actually need to pull. Those suckers really embed themselves. Wrap ticks in alcohol-soaked toilet paper and flush. If there are several ticks, fill a jar with alcohol, toss them inside and close the jar.
After removing ticks from my dog, I smear antibiotic ointment along the reddened skin just in case. It’s up to you, but this keeps swelling and risk of infection low.
Do Feet First
Once your dog is lying down, start checking his feet. Lower extremities are prime targets for ticks, so make sure to check between toe digits and pads—ticks can hide anywhere. After checking the first foot, start feeling upwards toward your dog’s elbow, checking all cervices. Then, repeat on the other front foot until both hind legs have been checked. I usually stop at the top of the thigh.
Now, start checking your dog’s rear end, lifting his tail and checking the genital area thoroughly. Run closed fingertips along your dog’s underside from rear to front and then along his front thighs, ribcage, shoulder and chest. Check along the top of your dog’s body.
Lastly, comb your fingertips through your dog’s neck hair in small sections to ensure you don’t skip a spot. Run your fingertips along your dog’s face and look in his ears and mouth. I’m sure you’ve seen the photo of a tick embedded in a dog’s gums circling around Facebook—gross!
Time Well Spent
Usually, it takes 10-15 minutes to check small dogs for ticks and 30-40 minutes for larger dogs. Also, by checking your dog regularly, you’ll able to locate or monitor any lumps or bumps, which is very important for early detection. Lastly, it’s very calming for both dog and pet owner.
Hopefully, you didn’t find any ticks!
